Music-roll-supporting clamp



Jau 9, 1923. 1,441,824. F C. BILLINGS. Muslc ROLL SUPPORTING CLAMP.

FILEDMN. 24, 1919. 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1.

Jan. 9, i923., JLMLMI,

F. C. BILLINGS.

MUSIC ROLL SUPPORTING CLAMP. FILED JAN. 24. |919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5 mum/1to1 dftcnncnm strip isvunwound to allow it to be carried voverthe tracker bar, and connected with the active roll indicated at J .inFigure 3. By thus leaving the clamp in position until the music roll hasbeen adjusted, and connected with the active roll or spool of the playerpiano, I prevent the paper from unwinding or springing away from thespool by its own resiliency, before it has been properly adjusted andconnected with the active roll. fifter the strip of paper has beenunwound suiciently to permit such connection, and either before or afterthe connection is actually made, the clamp may be removed, and the musicroll released for operation. The spool will be held under tension by thespindles on which it is mounted, and the paper cannot uinvindaccidentally, because the end of the strip will be held under tension,either jy the operator, or by the active roll, if it has been connectedtherewith. f

In Figures 3 and 4, it will he observed that the support is formed ofroundivire, the end portions of wiich constitute legs d, having theirextremities bent at .right angles to the legs to form foot pieces 7c.The intermediate portions form arcuate arms 7, with an upwardlyprojecting central loop m. This iclamp isy not adapted to hohl the spoolheads out of Contact with the support.

In Figure 5 the construction is similar to that disclosed in Figures land 2, but the device is inverted, and the end portions of the 'materialextended to form legs H and eyes G at the extremities, `which constitutefoot pieces,-the folded portions D, which correspond structurally withthe legs D of Figures l and Q, constituting upwardly projecting ears,which are 'adapted to serve as handles to spread the clamp when applyingit to, or removing it from, the roll. In this view, the arcuate portionC bears upon the top of the roll, andthe arms E extend downwardly. Thisstructure may of course be formed of wire or of a lat strip or bandof'resilient "material, as may be preferred.

In Figure 6 the structure is very similar to that in Figures l and 2,except that the legs D are of eye form, and the arms E are carriedupwardly far enough above the roll, and are out-turned in open curves,to serve as handles G.

In Figure 7, a single piece of resilient wire is illustrated as havingbeen looped and crossed to form a closed eye m, arms Z, legs d', andrectangularly bent foot pieces 7e', all similar in function and relativeposition to the structure shown in Figure et, but differing in form. i

In Figures 4- to 7, inclusive, no rubber covering is shown, it beingdeemed unnecessary to repeat the illustration of this simple feature inall the modifications illustrated. A rubber covering is merely desirableto prevent marring highly finished surfaces.

and as applied to the arcuate portion.` it increases the friction uponthe roll. Bul il is not essential to the operation o lf the clamp. Inthe constructions shown in Figures il to T, inclusive, the legs orvl'oot pieces project outnuirdl).v to a somewhat greater distance fromthe axis of the spool than the radii of the spool heads, and they arethorefore adapted to prevent the spool 'from rollingalong the surface ofa liable or other support, even in cases where theaY arr notv made ofsulicient le Vh lo hold the spool with the heads above such surface. 'ltwill also be understood that ilj desired, a plurality of these clampsma)v lio en'lplorcd, in which case the;` may be adjusted ai oppositesides ci the. longitudiinll center ol' tlu` roll, thereby making itunnecessary to depend upon the width of the clamp io prevent the rollfrom tilting in case the legz and foot pieces project far enough lo holdthe roll with the spool hear s above the supporting table, Win-rc asinghI clamp is used, it can easily be adjusted at tho center of theroll, owing to the fact thai all ordinari' music rolls are provided witha lapered crt emit);t r-:hich is exposed to view. and pro l with aconnecl ing ring or linl". The clanip will bc adjusted so as to engagethis tapered extremity of lhe roll in proximity to the connecting ring;lor link` and when so adjusted. it will occupi' a rculral positionbetween the spool heads.

I claim ll. The combination with :i nur-'ir roll :ind its winding poolof a. resilient clam n hariugfj a pair olt arcuate clamping! armsadapted resiliently to embrace a roll between the spool heads, memberson said clamp integri-al with said arms and projeciing oru'wardliy indiverging directions subsiaulially radially of the roll beyond the spoolheads. said members being adapted to engage a supporting surface toprevei'it ihr roll l'ron. traveling along the surface and the clampbeingsr releasable by one hand of the operator engaging said projectingmembers. tho other hand being tl'iereby left free to hold the roll. 9..The combination with a music roll and its winding spool, of a resilientclamp having` a pair of arcuate clampingr arms adapted resilicntly toembrace a roll between the spool heads, loops on said clamp integralwith said arms and projecting outwardly in direi-ging directionssubstantially radialh7 of the roll beyond the spool heads, said loops`being adapted to engage a supporting surface to prevent the roll fromtravelingr along the surface, a. resilient connection between saidloops, curved to con'orm to and engaging the periphery of the roll,whereby the u'ieinbers may be urged together to separate said arms andrelease the roll, and the clamp being rele-usable by one hand of theoperator llt) engaging said loops, the other hand being thereby leftfree to hold the roll.

'llhe combina-tion with a music roll and i its winding spool, of aresilient clamp having a pair of arcuate clamping arms adaptedresilient-ly to embrace a roll between the spool heads, members on saidclamp connected to said arms and project wardly in diverging directionssubstantially radially of the roll beyond the spool heads, said membersbeing adapted to engage a supporting surface to prevent the roll fromtraveling along` the surface, a resilient connection between saidmembers curved to conform to the curvature of the roll and adapted toengage the roll with said arms, where by the members may be lugedtogether to separate said arms and release the roll, and the clamp beingreleasable by one hand of the operator engaging said projecting meinwbers, the other hand being thereby left free to hold the roll.

l. The combination with a music rolland its winding spool, of aresilient clamp havingi` a pair of arcuate clamping arms adaptedresiliently to embrace the roll between the spool heads, loops on saidclamp integral with said arms and projecting outwardly in divergingdirections substantially radially of the roll beyond the spool heads,said loops being adapted to engage a supporting surface to prevent theroll from traveling along the surface, a resilient connection betweensaid loops curved to conform to the curvature of the roll and adapted toengage the roll with said arms, whereby the members may be urgedtogether to separate said arms and release the roll, and the clamp beingren leasable by one hand of the operator engag ing said projectingloops, the other hand be ing thereby left free 'to hold the roll, and anon-metallic covering on said members and said curved connection toprevent marring of a supporting surface and turning of the roll in saidclamp.

5. A resilient clamp for the purpose specilied comprising a pair ofarcuate clamping `arms adapted resiliently to embrace a music rollbetween the heads of the spool upon which it is wound, said arms havingsub-- stantially juxtaposed free ends and terminating at their otherends in outwardly projecting loops adapted to entend substantiallyradially of music roll and the spool heads, the said loops being adaptedto prevent the roll from 'traveling along a supporting surface, aresilient curved connecting strip between said loops whereby the loopsmay be engaged by one hand of the operator and urged together toseparate the clamping arms, and thereby to release the roll, the otherhand of the operator being left free to hold the roll.

il, resilient clamp for the purpose specilied comprising a pair ofarcuate clamping arms adapted resiliently to embrace a music rollbetween the heads of the spool upon which it is wound, said arms havingsubstantially juxtaposed free ends and ter minating at their other endsin outwardly projecting loops adapted to extend substantially radiallyof a music roll and the spool lrieafls,l the said loops being adapted toprevent the roll from traveling along a supporting surface, a resilientcurved connecting strip between said loops whereby the loops may beengaged by one hand of the opcrater and urged together to separate theclamping arms, and thereby to release 'the roll, the other hand of theoperator being left free to hold the roll, said resilient connectionbeing left free to hold the roll, s `id resilient connection between theloops being curved to conform with the curvature of a roll and beingadapted to `engage the periphery of a roll when the clamp is placedthereon, and a non-metallic covering upon said loops and said resilientconnection adapted to prevent marring of a supporting surface andfrictionally to enga-ge said surface and the roll to prevent turning ofthe roll in said clampw ln testimony whereof l affix my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

FEEDER-Ulli C. BlLLlNG-i.

Witnesses:

., (U. lllnenn, il. J, lllclinnirmn'.

